The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asserted that both All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Edo State governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, are out of the race following a shocking revelation that he is not a registered voter as reportedly revealed by checks in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
The alarming discovery that the APC candidate allegedly presented a fake voter card in his Form EC9 submitted to INEC is a self-inflicted blow which clearly and irredeemably signals the end of the road for the APC and its candidate in the governorship election, holding on 21 September.
According to the PDP, it is scandalous that the APC sponsored a candidate with alleged questionable documents as a governorship candidate in the state that is noted for very credible and highly respectable citizens.
It said that it is now apparent as to why the APC submitted to INEC a blurred and unreadable voter card purporting same to be that of its candidate and had remained silent since the news broke out that the said voter card is allegedly forged.
The PDP further said: “This act of impunity by the APC amounts to an assault on the sensibility of the generality of the people of the state and our nation’s democratic practice.
“Without remedy, the APC and its candidate, Okpebholo, are not eligible to contest the governorship election by virtue of the express provisions of Section 182 (1)(j) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Section 114 (g) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Section 467 of the Criminal Code Act.
“The clear implication is that the APC campaign in the state is a journey to nowhere as any vote cast for the APC in the election would be a void vote and effort in futility.
“Disturbingly, available information to our party indicate that some APC leaders are allegedly mounting pressure on certain INEC officials to compromise the commission’s data and input fabricated voter registration information for the embattled APC candidate”.
The PDP cautioned INEC not to succumb to the pressure by the APC as the public is already aware of hard evidence available in INEC Portal showing that the APC candidate is not registered as a voter.
It said that APC and its candidate should therefore immediately withdraw from the race as they cannot legally participate in this election.
It urged the people to remain at alert while working together to ensure that their will triumphs with the election of Dr. Asue Ighodalo at the governorship election.
